Professor Bruce Arroll – From Everest to Empowerment

Bruce is the director of the finance committee and a member of the Himalayan Trust’s health committee. The Himalayan Trust began in 1960 after Sir Edmund Hillary asked his Sherpa friends how he could repay their support. Their answer— “Build us a school”—led to the founding of the Trust and the construction of Khumjung School in 1961. This simple promise grew into a lifelong partnership between New Zealanders and the people of the Everest region.

Through the 1960s to the 1980s, the Trust built schools, bridges, water systems, and Kunde Hospital, which served the region for decades. Hillary also helped establish the Lukla airstrip, transforming access to the Khumbu, and supported the rebuilding of Thyangboche Monastery after a devastating fire. These practical projects shaped the Trust’s reputation for working directly with local communities. The airport is now a gateway to tourists and climbers who bring much-needed funds to the area.

From the 1990s, the focus shifted from construction to strengthening local systems—training teachers and health workers, improving sanitation, and expanding scholarships. Sir Ed remained closely involved until his death in 2008. In the 21st century, the Trust has supported school upgrades, maternal health, cultural preservation, and environmental resilience. After the 2015 earthquakes, it played a major role in rebuilding schools and clinics. Today, the Himalayan Trust is an international network supporting education, health, livelihoods, and Sherpa heritage—a living legacy of Sir Ed’s belief in helping where help is needed in the Solu-Kumbu region.